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No. 606,894. Patented July 5, I398. c. H. MERSEREAU'.

FOLDING SAMPLE CASE. (Application filed Mar. 24, 1898.)

(Mo Model.)

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ATTORNEYS;

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CHARLES H. MERSEREAU, OF PA-TERSON, 'NEYV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE INVENTORS NOVELTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FOLDING SAM PLE=CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,894, dated July 5, 1898.

Application filed March 24, 1898. Serial No. 674,976. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. IVIERSEREAU, a citizen of the United States, residing in Paterson, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Sample-Cases and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon,which form apart of this specification.

My present invention relates to folding sample-cases, and is an improvement on the folding sample-case covered by United States Letters Patent No. 574,130, of December 29, 1896.

The object of this invention is to provide a folding sample-case having a number of separate but connected trays or compartments arranged in two series capable of being opened or extended in opposite directions.

The invention consists in the improved folding sample-case combining two series of separate but connected trays or compartments carried by a base-compartment of a size equal to the size of the trays, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described, and finally embodied in the clauses of the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of my improved folding sample-case, a portion of the cover being broken away; Fig. 2, a front elevation of the folding sample-case, the cover having been removed and the two series of compartments opened or extended; and Fig. 8, a top plan View of Fig. 2, the left-hand series being closed.

In said drawings, a represents the base, in Y which is removably arranged the tray or bottom compartment 1), supporting in a manner hereinafter described two series of compartments or trays c d e and c d 6, respectively, each of which trays or compartments is equal in size and dimensions to the bottom compartment b. The compartments of the lefthand series are pivotally connectedbetween each other and with the compartment 1) and on each side thereof by a series of parallel links orarms f and g, while the compartments of the right-hand series are pivotally connected between each other in a like manner by means of links f and g. The lowermost compartment 0 of the right-hand series is connected by twoparal-lel links h and-2' with the bottom compartment 7) in a manner clearly illustrated in the drawings, and it, must be stated that the length of said lastmentioned links must be such that the said lowermost compartment 0 clears the uppermost compartment 6 of the left-hand series when in a closed position. A suitable cover m, provided with a handle a, can be placed over said compartments (when closed) and can be securedto thebase a by locks o of any suitable shape or construction.

By arranging two series of separate but connected trays above each other a narrow sample-case is provided for which can be conveniently carried around, and as the height of the same is no object to traveling salesmen an increased number of trays can be easily arranged in the said folding sample-case.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A folding sample case consisting of a base-compartment, and of two series of separate but pivotally-connected trays or compartments on said base-compartment and of uniform size with the latter, links connecting the lowermost compartment of each series with the base-compartment, and a cover removably connected with the base-compartment substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. A folding sample-case consisting of a base-compartment, two series of separate but connected compartments, of uniform size with the base-compartment, carried by the latter and pivotally connected therewith, and means for pivotally connecting the separate compartments of each series, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. A folding sample-case consisting of a base-compartment, two series of separate compartments of uniform size with said base-compartment and arranged on the latter-one above the other, means for pivotally connecting the separate compartments of each series,

and means for pivotally connecting the lowermost compartment of each series with the base-compartment, substantially as and for,

the purposes described.

4. A folding sample-case consisting of a base-compartment, two series of separate but connected compartments carried by said basecompartment and of uniform size with the latter, means for pivotally connecting the separate compartments of each series means for pivotally connecting the lowermost compartment of each series with the base-compartment, and a cover removably connected with the base-compartment, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of March, 1898.

CHARLES H. MERSEREAU. lVitnesses:

ALFRED GARTNER, \VILLIAM L. PLATT. 

